Marathon Weekend 2025

[camaker]

OK I'm gonna jump in with a SAFD!
We're almost here! We are just over 2 weeks away! So this is a two-fer!

First: What is your ONE (I mean it!) tip, trick, or wisdom that you can share about having a successful race or race weekend?

Second: What is an attraction you've *never* done in WDW parks? (If you've done everything, what's your "never again" attraction?)

Thanks for picking up my slack with a SAFD, @Herding_Cats! Today was Christmas with my mother in Charlotte, so it was a 3 hour trip each way plus visiting time. We just got home.

1st SAFD: My one biggest piece of advice for a race weekend, especially one involving a challenge, is to RELAX and enjoy the experience. Don't try to hyper-plan every detail of your races. Something is inevitably not going to go to plan and being able to chill and roll with whatever gets tossed at you can easily be the difference between a great, enjoyable experience and accomplishment and a stressed-out nail-biter of one. You've put in all the training you can at this point. Trust it and adapt to anything the weekend throws at you.

2nd SAFD: I'm going to mash the two options up a bit. I'm not a thrill ride person, so I have ridden the "Mountains" a grand total of one time. I rode Space Mountain on my very first trip to Disney during my very first honeymoon. I had a migraine at the time and didn't know what I was getting myself into. It was not pleasant. I will never ride Space Mountain (or any Mountain, for that matter) again.

 

[KellyKateri]

SAFD: 1) Connect your Bluetooth devices (especially AirPods) BEFORE you arrive. Also, update whatever tracking app you use (Nike run club/strava/etc) the night before and open the app BEFORE you arrive at the Epcot parking lot.

One race I had no music bc my AirPods wouldn’t connect to my phone, which is now resolved since I have shockz and then the next race I couldn’t track since my NRC app was bugging out.

Another tip for tracking friends family, share your location the night before on Find My Friends or give someone an air tag, that way you know where they are during/after the race.

2) I’ve done so much, but I think I have still never seen Awesome Planet in Epcot

 

[Fischstick]

SAFD: My tip is pragmatic.....I bring a folded up grocery bag in my pocket for each race for AFTER the race. That way, you can just dump all the goodies in there as you are making your way out of the chute. Think water, powerade, medals, snack box, bananas, mylars/wet towels. Makes the after event pics and meet ups easier too.

Have never done Kali river rapids. I’m not a fan of being wet in a theme park!

 

[Disney at Heart]

SAFD: I’ve been reading all the “haven’t dones” and “will never do agains” and have not seen one yet that applies to me. I’ve done, and still do, the roller coasters, the water rides, the dark rides, the “kiddie rides,” the shows, the movies, and walked the animal trails and climbed the tree house. So all I can think of is I never participated in the carnival games or fossil dig in Dinosaur Land, and I have missed a few of the character meet and greets. I’m looking forward to the new lands, shows, and rides coming up in the next few years.

 

[Z-Knight]

This is awesome! Love it.
Back to everyone having issues with final training runs due to health, weather, watching football, etc.:
I was listening to the latest (or one of the latest) Rise & Runs and they were addressing just this topic, and had a similar message to what others here have said.
To wit: the hay is already in the barn, and not completing the full Goofy/Dopey/whatever simulation run is not going to significantly affect your race, if at all. Especially if you aren't trying to set some PR during MW, which IMHO isn't the place for a PR unless you are starting way up front and don't want any photos.
To that I'll add: if you are running the Dopey and can't do the whole simulation, even a 5 or 6 mile run four days in a row is good training.
I'm not dismissing or contradicting Galloway, Hanson, or anyone else, just noting that at this point effectively starting your taper a few days early isn't going to kill your race, especially if the greater benefit is from resting and recuperating from a cold or a physical ailment.
Also, there are a number of us who never do the full race length(s) during training and finish just fine. Helping you will be the rest breaks from stopping for photos, and the crowd energy is also good for additional miles.
YMMV

The hay be in the barn, but my barn is on fire!!!! I'm literally doing mental math for the marathon to figure out how many minutes I can gain by starting before balloon ladies and how many minutes I can gain by jogging early miles so that I can hobble the remaining one!!!! haha

It's gonna be tough, but hey, it's always tough to do great things.

 

[Herding_Cats]

The hay be in the barn, but my barn is on fire!!!! I'm literally doing mental math for the marathon to figure out how many minutes I can gain by starting before balloon ladies and how many minutes I can gain by jogging early miles so that I can hobble the remaining one!!!! haha

It's gonna be tough, but hey, it's always tough to do great things.

Team Not-So-Fast is here for you!

 

[Barca33Runner]

SAFD:

1. Simple: Have Fun!

2. I have never done Hall of Presidents or Country Bear Jamboree in MK. The America Pavillion show in Epcot. The new-ish Cars show at HS. Pretty sure I’ve done everything in AK. Although the parks are, in many ways, a gigantic example of Americana, I’m happy enough to avoid the specific instances.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

First: What is your ONE (I mean it!) tip, trick, or wisdom that you can share about having a successful race or race weekend?

Second: What is an attraction you've *never* done in WDW parks? (If you've done everything, what's your "never again" attraction?)

SAFD:
My one piece of wisdom is to use the gear check bag to transport ice to your bathtub.

An attraction I have never done is TriceraTop Spin. & I regret not doing it during the marathon last year after being rejected from Everest lol.

 

[Disneyhanna]

I did my 2nd and final 20 miler today! No back to backs in training for me, I "just" did the 20 miler this weekend It was a beautiful day in the Twin Cities, forecast was real feel 15F but it ended up being more like 25F. I dressed well but legs were really stiff by the end, nothing a hot shower couldn't fix. The sun melted the icy spots and the 6" of snow we had was all powder, so one of my less hazardous winter long runs overall.

SAFD:

1. My wisdom is to make your packing list now. Look over it a few times so you know you have everything on it. Nothing worse than trying to pack last minute without a list and forgetting your Garmin charger

2. I've never been to Tom Sawyer Island. Probably never will, now that they're getting rid of it

 

[FFigawi]

Wait wait wait, I still have a big week of runs and one more long run next weekend, I’m not quite ready for that hay in the barn stuff just yet!

Don't worry, the annual "The Hay Is In The Barn" post will not be made until 2025.

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD:
Advice: put a change of shoes in your gear bag; I personally like Sanuk yoga slings, they're as close to not wearing shoes while still having some nice cushion between you and the ground.

Rides: I've never been on Kali River Rapids